Newbery Goal Progress
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I wasn't expecting a baby shower this time around, since it was my second child, and living in rural Kenya means baby things are rather hard for people to get. But here at Tenwek, opportunities to celebrate life events are rarely missed, and Ben was the first missionary kid born here in probably 6 years or more. So my friends conspired to plan a surprise shower for me, and it was a surprise! There is usually a womens' Bible study on Thursday nights and Eric encouraged me to go (and bring Ben with me) when he was just 3 days old. I had no idea. So here I am, walking in the door with baby, headlamp, and study book in hand...completely shocked to see decorations and 20 women staring at me!Ben got lots of wonderful gifts, including lots of disposable diapers shaped into a cake.
This is about what he looked like the whole time, to the delight of everyone who passed him around the room!
Theresa, ever the quntessential hostess, laid out quite a spread with tasty banana punch, cupcakes, etc.
Check out the cute little duckies on the cupcakes! All handmade, wow.
Jess, Alyssa, Ben, and me (it was obviously a surprise to me or I would have put my contacts in to come to the party!)
Almost all the women on the compound came to help celebrate, more than twice as many as are in our Bible study.
Opening some of the cute gifts: this is an elephant backpack that is about the same size as Ben right now, but he'll grow into it I'm sure.
It has been wonderful to share in the birth and life of Ben with my community here at Tenwek. Thanks, everyone!
In the three weeks surrounding Ben's birth, we've had quite the slew of visitors! (all unrelated to his arrival, but keeping us on our toes) It has been great to see so many familiar and friendly faces from home.
Ben is now a little over a week old and we are loving being the parents of TWO kids. Fortunately, Maggie has continued to enjoy her little brother, termed "Baby Ben." Other than continuously trying to steal his pacifiers, she has been nothing but affectionate. In the mornings and after naps, she immediately asks where he is and goes off in search of him (usually found sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's room). "Baby Ben!! Nap!!" She'll already fetch hats, diapers, and blankets for him as well (whether he needs them or not). Hopefully this sibling love continues for years to come!
Some know Mousey from their earliest days of infancy. Some may remember this entity from when we boasted of Maggie's Mousey a couple years ago.
When we left the US in December 2009, we took the only McLaughlin grandchild with us. Shortly thereafter, Sierra was born, and then Sami and Rachel were on a race to the finish line, being due only one day apart.
Being at Tenwek, we have limited ultrasound capability. The first two ultrasounds looked like a girl. The third thought maybe a boy. The fourth confirmed a girl. The fifth called it into question. The sixth seemed to clinch a boy, but how sure can you be after needing six scans. So we stopped looking. Nevertheless, we will always have this lovely gift to remind us of the saga. I guess Maggie can wear hers and maybe some other later girl will enjoy the other.
March 1, the day I start my maternity leave...2 wks before the due date. Ah. When I was pregnant with Maggie I worked until the day after my due date, and she was born the next morning, so in some ways I feel like a little bit of a weenie stopping 2 wks early. It seems different this time, though. I don't know if it's the 6500 ft altitude, the entirely uphill + 3 flights of stairs walk to the hospital every morning, the toddler I now have to chase around when I come home, or maybe just amnesia about what exactly happened last time, but I am exhausted!